North Stars goalie, Joey Hawco pictured here with the puck from his first career SJHL shutout. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

stars win

Hawco leads way with shutout in debut as Stars blank Klippers 4-0

Sep 23, 2023 | 12:39 AM

It was a night to remember for first-year netminder Joey Hawco Friday, as the not-yet 18-year-old stopped all 29 shots he faced to earn a shutout in his SJHL debut donning the Battlefords North Stars’ crest.

The 18-year-old’s efforts led the way for the team, in what was a scoreless game through 40 minutes, before a four-goal outburst in the third broke through for the North Stars’ offense.

Four different North Stars scored for the team in their home opener, with Alex Izyk’s first of the year making it 1-0 Battlefords just over 3:30 into the third, on a laser wrister from the high slot to break the scoreless stalemate.

Owen Underhill’s first then made it 2-0 Stars on an electric rush up ice, finished by a wicked shot to the top corner glove-side to bring the fans out of their seats in thunderous applause.

Russia-Ukraine War

In a first, President Biden gives green light for Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles in Russia

14h ago

Helping hand

Big red sleigh brings holiday spirit to kick off Battlefords Empty Stocking Fund

Nov 16, 2024

Battlefords North Stars

Big performance from Maric ends Red Wings win streak

Nov 16, 2024

Riley Girod stretched the lead to 3-0 just over seven minutes later on a shorthanded goal to provide some added insurance, followed by Josh Karman’s first in the SJHL putting the game to bed at the 17:35 mark just two and-a-half minutes later, at 4-0.

Assistant coach of the North Stars, Garry Childerhose said postgame, he liked the team’s energy and tenacity throughout the night.

“I thought it was a really good game one, we came out hard and had a good [forecheck] all night and stuck to it all game,” Childerhose said.

“We had some great opportunities in the first and we just couldn’t find our touch quite yet, but we just stuck to it and kept being relentless and putting the pressure on and our older guys got us on the board in the third […] it was a good way to start the year.”

Despite allowing four goals on the night, Kindersley’s Cody Jaman was excellent in the Klippers’ goal as well throughout the evening, stopping all 29 shots he faced through two periods, and 38/42 total on the night.

The North Stars and Klippers will get the rest of the night off to rest and regroup, before returning to play for the rematch Saturday night, as the teams’ home-and-home switches locations to Kindersley.

Saturday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

No scoring

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

3:35 BAT Alex Izyk (1) ASST: Jackson Allan, Jordan Grill 1-0 BAT

7:55 BAT Owen Underhill (1) ASST: Jackson Allan 2-0 BAT

15:04 BAT Riley Girod (1) ASST: Alex Izyk (SH) 3-0 BAT

17:35 BAT Josh Karman (1) ASST: Andrew Casellato, Matthew Biros 4-0 BAT

4-0 North Stars, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1